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VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region.

To Ink Or Not To Ink? Talking Tattoos And What They Mean Today

A tattoo artist sketches a new drawing on a man's chest.
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An estimated three of every 10 adults have tattoos, making them common enough that some organizations are changing hiring practices to accomodate ink. "Vermont Edition" is talking about changing attitudes around tattoos.

More Americans than ever have tattoos, with a recent Harris Poll survey finding three in ten adults are inked. Shifting attitudes toward tattoos are leading to changes in hiring practices, like a new Vermont State Police policy giving officer ink the stamp of approval, provided the tattoo is covered when in uniform. We're talking about changing attitudes around tattoos and what they mean today.

We'll talk with Deborah Blom, associate professor and acting Chair of Anthropology at UVM, to discuss how tattoos and other forms of body modification have deep roots in human history.

We'll also hear from Capt. Julie Scribner, staff operations commander with Vermont State Police, about VSP's updated tattoo policy.

And we'll talk with two Vermont tattoo artists — Lila Rees of Rock City Tattoos in Barre, and Jesse Levitt of Netherworld Studios in South Burlington — about attitudes, trends and the growing ubiquity of tattoos.

You can share pictures of your tattoos on the VPR Facebook page.

Broadcast live on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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